Linux Uprising blog

Uniread aims at improving your reading speed by using a Spritz-like technique for fast reading. The application uses Node.js, runs on the command line, and it currently supports the EPUB and PDF ebook file types.

According to Spritzinc, when you read "the eye seeks a certain point within the word, which we call the optimal recognition point, or ORP. After your eyes find the ORP, your brain starts to process the meaning of the word that you're viewing".

They continue to mention that "when reading, only around 20% of your time is spent processing content. The remaining 80% is spent physically moving your eyes from word to word and scanning for the next ORP".

This is where the Spritz-like technique / software comes in. Using it, you can read the text without moving your eyes and thus, improve your reading speed (thanks to the 80% of time gained from not having to move your eyes and by increasing the speed at which words are being displayed on screen).

Here's a fast reading test video which also contains some more information related to this:

Now back to Uniread. The command line tool has a limited set of features for now, as it's considered pre-alpha software, but it already supports displaying EPUB chapters, and can be controlled using the keyboard.

Image credits: Uniread Github page; The speed at which words are being displayed can be increased or decreased

Uniread also displays some statistics, like the current reading speed, reading progress (read number of words / total), as well as the estimated time left to finish reading the book.

The application lacks the ability to continue where you left off, but this feature is planned for a future release. An option to show multiple words might also be added in the future, along with various other enhancements, like incrementing the time longer words are shown.

You shouldn't run npm install with sudo, even if some project page mentions that. Set up npm and Node.js as described here, then use "npm install -g uniread".

As for that specific error, it seems to require Git. You didn't mention which Linux distribution you're using. If you use Debian, Ubuntu or Linux Mint install it using this command: "sudo apt install git"